How to tell if your horse is paying attention to you.

One of the most important elements of effectively training your horse is communication. Whether you’re working with your horse in the round pen, riding on the trails or loading your horse in a trailer, it’s critical to have good communication with your horse – for both your safety and the horse’s. In order to communicate effectively, your horse needs to pay attention to you.

We’ve all seen horses who don’t pay attention to their owners. And there are all types of “not paying attention” behavior. Some horses “check out” mentally and won’t respond to your cues without a lot of work on your part. Others pay attention to everything else around them except you – carrying their head high, never looking at you and acting spooky about everything around them. And of course, there are horses that “snub” you – turn their rears toward you and ignore you completely.

So, how can you tell if you have your horse’s attention? While every horse has a different personality, there are signs that you can watch for in every horse to know if he or she is paying attention to you.

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In the Round Pen

When you’re working with your horse in the round pen, watch closely for these signs:

Inner ear turned toward you.

Lowered head, licking lips, chewing

Turning in toward you

While Riding

Whether you’re out on the trail, riding around the farm or in an arena, it’s critical to have your horse’s attention. Here’s what to look for:

Lowered head. If the horse’s head is high and he’s nervous or skittish, he’s paying attention to everything around him, not you.

Quick responses to light cues. If you have to kick your horse constantly or pull hard on the reins, he’s not paying attention.

Ear turned toward you.

On the Ground

Whether you’re leading your horse, loading him in a trailer or just grooming him, watch for these signs that you have his attention:

Respects your space

Lowered head

Eyes and ears on you

Remember, until you establish leadership, very few horses will pay attention to you or listen to you. That’s why I recommend the first step in training any horse is to work with him in a round pen to establish your leadership and get his respect. Once your horse recognizes you as the leader, you’ll find he is much more willing to pay attention to you. An improved bond with your horse enhances communication and, ultimately, creates a better relationship.